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RailRiders' Aceves banned 50 games for positive drug test

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Major League Baseball suspended RailRiders pitcher Alfredo Aceves for 50 games on Thursday afternoon after a second positive test for a drug of abuse.

Aceves won’t be paid during the suspension, and the RailRiders placed him on their restricted list Thursday.

The 31-year-old right-hander had emerged as a staple in the RailRiders’ starting rotation after being designated for assignment by the New York Yankees on June 4. He posted a 6.52 ERA and allowed six home runs in 10 largely ineffective outings as a long reliever, but since returning to the RailRiders, Aceves had a 4.91 ERA in four games.

Aceves last started Tuesday, allowing three runs on eight hits in 5⅓ innings, ultimately taking the loss in a 3-2 defeat against Lehigh Valley at PNC Field.

He would not be eligible to return to the RailRiders until Aug. 25.

As part of the major league drug prevention and treatment program, players can only be tested for performance-enhancing drugs. But testing in the minor leagues is much more stringent and does, indeed, include testing for so-called “drugs of abuse,” like marijuana, cocaine and heroin, as well as PEDs. Once Aceves was outrighted to the RailRiders, he was subject to the minor-league program, thus enabling him to be suspended for positive drug of abuse tests.

Word of Aceves’ suspension came amidst what already had been a fairly sizeable roster shake-up. Steady utility man and middle-of-the-order bat Zelous Wheeler was promoted to New York on Wednesday night, and the Yankees officially announced struggling infielder Yangervis Solarte would replace him with the RailRiders.

But the RailRiders lost their regular shortstop —Dean Anna, who was designated for assignment — and his top backup, Wheeler. So, they added shortstop Carmen Angelini from Double-A Trenton. Also, Adonis Garcia was activated from the disabled list, where he had been while recovering from a left leg injury.

With Aceves’ next start scheduled for Sunday, the RailRiders likely will have to find a fill-in for a rotation that takes another hit in what has been a season travelled on a bumpy road.

They do have five starters — right-handers Shane Greene, Bruce Billings, Chris Leroux and Joel De La Cruz, along with southpaw Nik Turley — currently on the roster, and because of a rash of doubleheaders recently, all have been starting regularly. None, however, would be on turn for Sunday’s start, which is listed currently as a TBA.

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